Comments on: Relinquishment of Dominance as a Requirement for Citizenship in the Kingdom of God

By: Chasing the Wind » Christian Carnival CCXIX

Chasing the Wind » Christian Carnival CCXIX — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:52:17 +0000

[...] Imler presents Relinquishment of Dominance as a Requirement for Citizenship in the Kingdom of God posted at Theology for the Masses. What does it mean to be “like a [...]

By: Honzo

Honzo — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:23:06 +0000

From what I understand, it all depends on the household. In some, there are are slaves that are seen as higher than children and wives, in others there are no slaves which are higher than any freed person.
But your point stands reguardless.

By: cheapham

cheapham — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:12:06 +0000

I’m not entirely certain on this…but I think a slave (doulos) would technically be lower on the hiearchy spectrum of a Roman household than a child. Children have the potential to become adults and thus transition to places of power in the Roman system. Slaves however don’t have that option. Even when becoming freed(wo)men, they have less rights/status than a citizen in the empire. With that taken into consideration, I’d say it gives an interesting spin to Paul’s employment of the term.

By: Hank

Hank — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:58:33 +0000

Um after reading Secret Invasion #1, I don’t who is a skrull around these parts anymore.

By: Honzo

Honzo — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 04:42:56 +0000

Di g what you are saying here, Hank. If I were to expound what living as fellow imago deis looked like I would proceed further and talk about a fellow servant relationship that mirrors that of the Godhead. In other words, I maintain what I said in the post, but if I were to expand upon it, I would most certainly move in the direction you are describing.
(What, we are agreeing? Is one of us, or both a Skrull?)

By: Hank

Hank — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 02:53:34 +0000

I don’t think that the texts cited call for us to see each other as equals, rather we are called to view others as greater than ourselves. That to follow Jesus’ example is to become a doulos, as slave (not bond-servant but a slave). He came to be a servant according to Mark 10:45 and the apostle Paul says in that beautiful hymn of Philippians 2:5-8 (NET),

You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross!

I just don’t think you go far enough in our views of others. We must be servants of others, not just equals. But overall, I like the post.